Vibram, inventor of the glove-like FiveFingers shoe, has made Burten Distribution the exclusive U.S. distributor for its Furoshiki line of footwear. The Furoshiki shoe, also known as the Wrapping Sole, takes inspiration from the Japanese art of furoshiki, in which a given object is wrapped with a single length of cloth. The shoe combines the Vibram XS City rubber outsole with a wrapping upper made of Sensitive fabrics, a material patented and manufactured by the Italian firm Eurojersey. The result is a light, pliant, non-slip shoe. Burten Distribution is based in Los Angeles and handles footwear distribution to standard retailers as well as orthotics specialists, podiatrists and hospitals. Its president, Gene Burten, believes that the Furoshiki line can be expanded from the outdoor and sports markets into fashion.